Jeffrey M. Pilcher’s Hopped Up explores the transformation of beer from a diverse array of indigenous fermented drinks, such as pulque and sake, into a uniform global commodity. By tracing the influences of industrialization and international trade, Pilcher demonstrates how local brewing traditions were gradually overshadowed by the rise of the standardized, crisp Pilsner style. This global history highlights how shifting tastes and commercial expansion redefined a wide variety of cultural beverages into a single, mass-produced industrial product.
